Simple Cleaning Lessons

My house is tidy. Mostly picked up . . . most of the time. But it's actually quite dirty. Like, stuff-stuck-on-the-floors, soap-scum-residing-in-the-tub-for-months, need-to-scrub-all-the-toilets sort of dirty. I go in waves with my enthusiasm for cleaning. Right now in the third trimester? It's exhausting just thinking about getting on my hands and knees to do the work.

I've read all sorts of articles on embracing the madness. That a messy home is a home full of love. And all that stuff. But I've also hit the nesting stage and it's bothering me -- BIG time. I would like my house clean. At least sort-of, kind-of clean. And I think there's a happy balance to be had.

Nerd alert: I spent a good deal of Eloise's nap looking up cleaning videos on YouTube yesterday afternoon. Yes, I have a writing deadline I should have been working on. Yes, I could have probably better used that time to actually get off my butt and clean. But I'm desperate. I am trying so hard to figure out a better way to keep my house clean, not just picked up.

There are a few things I learned, and I thought I'd share them here. Because I was THISCLOSE to calling a cleaning company, which is a luxury I think to be totally worth it if you have the funds. I cannot allocate money in that direction right now, so figuring out a way to simplify my cleaning practices is key. That said, we may be saving up some dollars and cents to hire occasional cleaning in the first few months after baby comes this time around. Because no new, breastfeeding-constantly-always mama has time (OK. maybe time, but desire!) to scrub with three kids and a husband who's gone six days a week.

// 1: Stop zone cleaning. 

This was interesting to me. Several articles and videos I watched said to stop approaching the house from a "clean the living room" or "clean the bathroom" perspective. Instead, do tasks like dusting throughout the entire house first, then move on to cleaning windows and mirrors, then move on to wiping down surfaces/scrubbing toilets/etc. and then to floors. I've never tried cleaning my house this way, so I am intrigued.

// 2: Prioritize. 

Stephen and I have really different cleaning styles. I get bogged down basically taking a toothbrush to every microscopic area that could be gone over. He goes really fast and glosses over a lot. We need to marry these approaches, at least sort of. Like I could be LESS detailed and he could be MORE detailed. But we need to prioritize the areas we want the cleanest together. Generally things like kitchen surfaces and toilets/tubs are big priorities. Dusting the tops of the kitchen shelves and ceiling fans might not be something that makes it as high up the list.

// 3: Gather together. 

I don't have one of those cleaning buckets or baskets. My cleaning supplies are scattered in different areas by room. Because as I mentioned before, I used to clean by room. But if you do tasks, it makes more sense to gather everything in a basket or cardboard box -- whatever -- and take it to the areas you're cleaning in that moment so you aren't running around the house like a crazy person.

// 4: Enlist your kids.

This is something I have just started doing recently, and I'm seeing how it goes. Ada is old enough now to help with more cleaning tasks. Since my belly has kept me from wanting to bend over, I'm taking full advantage and asking her to do more. For example, after dinner ends up all on the kitchen floor . . . I ask her to go through with our hand vacuum each night and suck it up. No, she doesn't do a perfect job. But I don't have to do it. I have also asked her to start picking up toys (which is easier having gotten rid of so many!) with Eloise. Their top motivator is playing cleanup songs on YouTube. Yes, I could have started that way sooner, but I am a control freak and often figured it would be faster if I just did it.

// 5: Set a timer.

This is my own tip, because otherwise I think I may spend the next year cleaning without any breaks. I am planning to set a timer each day for 15 minutes to dedicate to cleaning. On another day each week, I may set it to 30 minutes or -- alternatively -- 15 minutes, twice that day. And then on the weekend, I may set it to 45 minutes or 15 minutes, THREE times in a day (with the whole family's help that day). I have trouble setting out to clean and having no set start or end time. If I break it into chunks, I think it will feel more manageable. I don't want to spend hours cleaning, but I am hoping by dedicating time each day -- even just 15 minutes -- I'll be able to power through better.


Do you have any cleaning tips to share?

I've seen so many "rhythms" and methods for taking each day to zone clean . . . but none of them have ever worked for me.

And if you're curious, my favorite cleaning YouTuber is Clean My Space. She uses VERY simple DIY cleaners. Mostly baking soda, vinegar, and water with microfiber cloths. No fussy recipes. She also gives tons of tips for fast cleaning and more deep cleaning.

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Friday Vulnerability

I mentioned in my day-in-the-life post that I’m feeling spent. Still, I was called to write today by something inside of me. I don’t know what. I don’t have a plan or some SEO-savvy topic. I have a lot of thoughts racing around in my mind, actually. I was texting back and forth with one of my best friends yesterday about this ever-present pull I feel in my life. I say pull, but it sometimes feels as though I’m being torn apart with all my different goals, desires, and callings.

Can you relate?

My mom had mentioned to me around when I turned thirty that her 30s were a decade of feeling like she never was doing the right thing. Like if she did one thing, it wasn’t was she really should be doing. If she did another thing, she felt that, too, wasn’t “right”. Now that I’m 34, these last few years have had me exactly in that spot . . . many times. My twenties felt like they were for figuring out my place in life. So,  naturally, by my thirties I should have it all figured out.

Nope.

Allow me to get uncomfortably vulnerable for a few minutes.

For example, I crave a simple life. I’ve written about it many times. Sometimes I don’t even know what this means on an intellectual level. It’s a feeling. I feel it deep in my chest as I type this out. Like my entire being is screaming for everything to stop already. To calm. For the world to fade away and let me focus for a minute . . .  or maybe a year. Ah, what a divine gift that would be.

Wrapped up in this, too, is a desire for a clearer sense of purpose. I mentioned that I often feel my attention is split between being a mother, a writer, a wife, a daughter, etc. We all play many roles in our lives. I want to be all these things. Of all, being a mother fills me with the most sense of gratitude and accomplishment. Yet part of me feels like that’s somehow backwards and like I should be doing more with my life.

To continue on this theme, I dream of a life without the distractions of modern living. I try to get at this heart of this by striving to create less waste. To avoid buying extras and accumulating clutter. To keep the rhythm of our home calm and steady. To use my phone and other electronics less. To have my kids shun the television and to spend more time face to face or in nature or just doing “real” things.

But here’s where the pulling happens:

While I want the calm, life isn’t calm. I can’t figure out if it’s just one of those chicken/egg situations. We easily get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. Things need to get done. Slowing down often doesn’t work. Or I cannot figure it out. Instead of that inner peace I desire, I feel like I’m chugging caffeine to keep things going for the sake of the family. I often feel like simplicity is merely a myth. Or perhaps a luxury.

I feel like I do not have the time or energy to focus my efforts and be 100% in the important roles I must fill. Instead, I’m scrambling to fill them the best I can . . . and dutifully do as much as I can. At the end of the day, I can feel such little accomplishment despite doing so much because I haven’t necessarily done my “best,” if that makes sense. And I often feel this outside judgment -- whether real or imagined -- that I am failing. That I’m not doing enough or that somehow what I’m choosing to do with my life isn’t enough.

With regard to turning away from distraction . . . it’s an on-again, off-again process. While I would love to turn my back on society and its trappings, I also desire to be connected and -- yes -- to have nice things. We all know that things can fill voids, even though I have tried my hardest to reprogram my mind against that way of thinking/feeling. On some level, I also desire to relate to my peers, which sometimes means getting off track from my goals of simple living. I still care what others think of me, maybe too much.

Takeaway

Obviously I have some soul-searching to do. (And Eloise is already waking from her nap that was a whopping 20 minutes in length.) I may just need to let go and surrender to something that has the potential to feel scary at first. Big lifestyle changes are like that. I have dipped my toes in the waters with the repaying debt reflections. There’s this huge shift that needs to happen, like a whole way-of-life shift. I want it to happen, but I still don’t know what that life looks like in its entirety.

It’s going to require taking a deep breath and jumping in. It’s going to require agreement and participation from the whole family. Even if that means figuring out what life on the other side looks like along the way. I don’t know if I’m making any sense. I know that much of what I desire out of life is connected in some way. It all goes back to simplicity and calm. There’s this pressure weighing down with each passing day that somehow I am wasting time figuring this out. While I’m by no means old . . . I fear the longer it takes to feel this inner sense of calm, the more of my life I’m not spending fully plugged in.

There are days when I think of hanging up my blogging hat so I can spend more time learning versus writing. I am trying to find a good mix between the two. Do you have any suggestions for bloggers or books or other things that have helped you navigate these deep thoughts/questions in life? I’d love to hear what’s helped you along your own path.

So, there are some thoughts for your rainy Friday. I’m a work in progress, as always.

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Screen Time

I have some good posts coming up this week! I am currently filming a little day-in-the-life bit so you can see what I do on the daily. I always love posts like those -- especially from other work-at-home moms. And I am also planning to share why I have decided to stop it already with the LuLaRoe obsession. I was going to just write my thoughts, but I also think it would be interesting to show you why. So, that will also be a video/post.

Today, I want to get out there one of the goals I added to my resolution list. It's a common one, but it is something I didn't think I had a huge issue with until recently. See, I was writing a freelance article and came across the statistic that the average adult spends over 10 hours a day on screens. Initially, I scoffed. "That's ridiculous!" And then I started estimating my own computer, phone, and television time.

Gulp. It's pretty accurate.

I'd say I spend about 4 hours doing computer work for my jobs and also some casual browsing each day of week. Stephen and I have the television on for around two hours each night, even if it's just in the background. And I have my smart phone on me (BTW: I am IN LOVE with my Cell Mate case. In love!) a lot of the time, I don't think I spend three hours on it -- but it might be close to that if you count browsing while nursing, etc.

So, say I spend maybe 8 hours a day on devices most days of the week. I don't like multiplying to get the total. It's too much. I've also noticed that I've been experiencing eye strain lately. I've been trying to follow the 20-20-20 rule (for every 20 minutes on a screen, look into the distance 20 feet for 20 seconds), but it's hard.

I'd love to say "but those hours of screen time when you're working don't count -- you HAVE to do that."

But they do count. At least toward the negative health effects, etc. I don't really know what to do about those. Still, I am hoping to cut down TV time and smart phone time by half to start. Maybe more. I am actually considering proposing to Stephen that we have a few TV-free nights. We don't have cable, but Hulu and Netflix have plenty.

Last night I started by cracking open my Alexander Hamilton biography. I like Chernow's writing style so much, I also ordered his George Washington biography. As if I'll be done with the 800+ pages anytime soon. (And I am going to start doing more library borrowing as well! I just know I'll be trying to read these books chapter by chapter for quite a long time.)

What have you guys done to cut down on screen time? We have phones banned from the dinner table. Otherwise, we've really let any rules slide. I am also looking into this whole single-tasking approach to see if it might make my work more efficient and less time-consuming.

Whatever the case, I'm signing off for the day.

More soon, though! And don't worry -- my review of Weight Watchers is coming up soon. I am down 4 pounds for January. But I've hit some bumps in the road. If you have specific questions you'd like me to answer, leave them in the comments below.

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January Foods + Carrot Boost Soup

If you click over to the website, you'll see that I'm playing around with some new design. I also want to make things easier to find. With limited time, this might be a long process. So, please be patient! If there's a feature you'd like to see on neverhomemaker, let me know! If there's something that isn't working for you, please let me know that as well.

Let's jump in with my favorite foods for January. I'm hoping to make this a monthly video feature where I rummage through my cupboards and refrigerator and share with you the stuff I'm loving to eat that particular month. As mentioned yesterday, I'm doing Weight Watchers -- so some of these foods are particularly friendly for that program.

JANUARY FAVE FOODS

// If you aren't watching the video: PB2 Premium Chocolate, Kodiak Cakes in PB Protein, Grillo's Pickles, Republic of Tea Gingerbread, carrot soup (below), and Poor Gal's Kombucha.

Our family has r.e.a.l.l.y taken to this carrot soup. It's full of immune-boosting ingredients. Stephen has been making a carrot soup for quite some time, actually. In a way, this is his recipe. Ada and I keep getting sick. And I decided I wanted to see what I could add to the mix that might help matters.


Immunity-boosting ingredients, according to Healthline:

• Ginger
• Garlic
• Lemon
• Turmeric  

We actually made a TRIPLE batch of this soup recently. Feel free to play with the recipe and make more if you want to stock up. Though I'm still new at it, I'm thinking this soup has only 1 point for WW people who are tracking. We ate the first bit for dinner and then packed the rest for lunches. It's easy to sip down soup even when you have a Velcro-baby.

See?

CARROT BOOST SOUP

What you'll need . . . 

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 pounds organic carrots, scrubbed and chopped into 1-inch coins
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 1-2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5-6 cups water, depending on how runny you like your soup
• Juice of one lemon 
• Pinch salt and pepper

Method . . . 

1. Heat oil in a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Add in onions and cook until softened.
2. Add in the garlic, ginger, and spices. Cook for a minute or so. 
3. Then add your carrots and water. Increase heat and bring to a boil.
4. Lower to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. 
5. Then let cool for a little while before blending until smooth. Feel free to add more water, if necessary.
6. Return to stove to season with the salt and pepper + stir in lemon juice.

Enjoy!

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Apple + Butternut Squash Soup // Slow Cook

For dinner last night, I decided to go easy on myself and simmer together a soup in the crock pot. I mean, is there anything better in autumn than smelling something yummy cooking all day long? And this soup has a healthy dose of spices that make it extra comforting.

You may have missed all my gushing last year, but I got a new slow cooker. I used to have one of those $10 varieties, and it worked quite well. If you're on a budget, I really recommend going with whatever you can afford because crock pot = easy dinner. My new baby? Still affordable! The Aroma 3-in-1, which is a slow cooker, rice cooker, and steamer in one convenient package.

I recommend using Granny Smith apples in this recipe. They have an extra edge that my McIntosh didn't this time around. But whatever you have should still do the trick.

APPLE + BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

What you'll need . . .

• 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• 2 apples, cored and diced 
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup apple cider
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons Better Than Bullion*
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice (or mix of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup unsweetened soy or almond milk

* Don't have this stuff? Try using 2 cups of vegetable stock in place of the water, cider, and bullion. Also: That price on Amazon is horrible. I linked so you can see what it looks like. Pick it up at your local market.

Method . . .

1. Toss the butternut squash, apples, onion, garlic, cider, water, bullion, spices, salt, and pepper into your slow cooker. Mix well.
2. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours. Then let cool slightly and stir in the soy or almond milk. 
3. Transfer to your blender in two batches and blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

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Yummy Yogurt Breakfast Recipe

Today's post is short and (naturally) sweet. This is the breakfast I have been obsessed with for the last week or so. It makes me feel like I'm eating dessert . . . but it's also oh-so good for me (and baby)! I go in and out of my love for Greek yogurt, but right now -- it's on fire.

Yum!

GREEK YOGURT BOWL

What you'll need . . .

• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter*
• 1 tablespoon cacao or cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
• Chia seeds
• Strawberries or other fruit

* I imagine sunflower butter would make an amazing substitute!

Method . . .

1. Just mix everything together really well. Adjust with sweetener to your preference.
2. Then slice strawberries and top with chia seeds.

Happy Hump Day!

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Mexican Quinoa Salad

Happy voting day, NY-ers! I was all ready to cast my ballot when I dropped Ada off for preschool . . . only to realize the polls don't open till noon. Oops. In the meantime, I'm working on a few freelance pieces and thought I'd pop on to share this really simple dinner recipe we've been eating quite frequently.

File this beauty under hectic weeknight meals. Seriously.

ONE POT MEXICAN QUINOA SALAD

Here's the original recipe, but we've modified it to suit our pantry contents.

What you'll need . . .

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1-1/2 cup water + 2 teaspoons Better than Bouillon (Veggie)*
• 1 can black or pinto beans, drained + rinsed
• 1 cup salsa of choice
• 1-1/2 cups frozen corn/onion/bell pepper mix**
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Black pepper -- to taste

* Or 1-1/2 cups veggie broth
** Or just frozen corn -- but consider adding some bell pepper

Method . . .

1. Put all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then drop heat to a simmer for 20 - 25 minutes.
2. Let sit another 5 minutes and then fluff before serving.
3. You can also chop up avocado and mix it in, add a squirt of lime juice, serve over a bed of arugula, and top with shredded cheese + sour cream.

I feel like this mix tastes even better the next day. We sometimes make a double batch and eat it all week for lunches. I've filled tortillas with it, too. And -- uh -- I even topped our Friday night pizza with some leftovers last week. Yum. You can also feel free to add jalapeno pepper or more spice. My heartburn these days doesn't permit me to do that. Sigh.

Enjoy!

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Our House Cleaning Routine

Skipping ahead of myself again to share something I've been meaning to write up for quite some time. Our cleaning routine! And the reason I've wanted to write about it but haven't is because we weren't in a good groove . . . and I thought posting would help push us in the right direction. Well, now that we've cleaned and cleared out in our minimalist efforts, everything is falling much better into place.

Here's how we approach cleaning our spaces, how often we clean what, and what things we tend to leave for longer periods of time. Note: I'm not slating this as some "best practices" kind of post. Just merely sharing what we do. I'd love to hear how you approach cleaning in your everyday life!

Everyday

#1: The kitchen tends to be the busiest spot in our home. I typically cook most of our meals and snacks from scratch to help save money in the budget for other areas. As a result, I use my food processor, blender, stand mixer, slow cooker, and multiple pots and pans almost daily. Holy dishes! Cleaning the kitchen consists of getting the dishes through the washer and putting them away. Cleaning any kitchen tools we've used. Wiping up crumbs and grime from counter tops. Sweeping any big messes off the floor. This isn't a deep clean, it's simply to keep things running smoothly.

#2: Tidying up clutter. I run through the main areas of the house regularly throughout the day and attempt to keep whatever near its "right place." Ada's toys are the things that migrate around mostly. We have a few baskets in the living room to put blocks and a few other quiet toys in. Stuffed animals are her favorite, so I find them everywhere. It's not a big deal if they're around, but there's something so soothing about walking around the house at night and it's all clear for the next day.

Also: We've been getting Ada in on the task because we've put a metal bucket at the bottom of the stairs. In the evenings, we ask her to get anything that belongs in her room and put it in the bucket so we can put it back before bedtime.

#3: Paperwork. This is something new we've attempting to tackle every single day. We noticed that so much of the crap we've been stashing for far too long was junk mail and other documents that could be cleared out almost immediately. I don't know what our hangup was. Now I try to recycle junk mail and take care of other random papers coming into the house the day we receive them. It's a work in progress.

Every Other Day

#1: We vacuum the floor on the main level of the house just about every other day. A lot of this ends up being mess from eating in the dining room, cooking in the kitchen, or general crumbs and dirt from the outdoors.

#2: Laundry. I'd like to get on a better, less frequent schedule with washing laundry. Part of this battle has been paring down our wardrobes. Part of it has been being more patient if favorite clothes are soiled. I think we could be better at waiting longer between loads, but it seems like we're doing at least a few every other day. I wrote a whole article about how we should wash our clothes less often for Wisebread a few years ago, it's an interesting read!

#3: Recycling. We have a huge bin for recycling in our kitchen and we try to empty it into the garage bin about every other day. But here's the problem -- I don't know WHY we seem to have so many boxes, plastics, and other things going through the house. This should be a once a week thing in my opinion. I'm really trying to examine why we have so much packaging. BTW: Check out this great article about Surviving a Week of Zero-Waste Shopping. We have a lot of work we could do in this area. Oh, goals!

Once a Week

#1: Bathrooms. I feel like our bathrooms get so dirty so fast! We tend to give them a total clean once a week, consisting of cleaning the toilet, wiping down the sink (toothpaste + 4-year-old = ugh!), spritzing the mirrors, and clearing out any empty containers.

#2: We vacuum the basement carpet once a week. If it needs to be cleaned more often, we can't ever tell because it's all different shades of brown and masks things well. I would like to get a shampooer to give the thing a good wash a few times a year. Anyone rent or buy one and have experiences to share?

#3: We wash our paperless towel system once a week -- sometimes more if we've been using a lot of them.

#4: Bedrooms. I'll just tell you I don't make our bed every day. I probably make it once a week. I used to make it mostly daily, but since being pregnant, I crawl in and out on occasion -- so I figure, what's the point? Ada's bed is the same way because she's still napping. And as good as we are with washing our clothing, we are slow to put it away. This is something I'd like to work on because having calm, clean sleep spaces is important. They're not horrible, but I hate seeing laundry piles.

#5: Change sheets. I say weekly because that's what we usually do. But if I'm being totally honest, there are times when maybe two weeks go and we don't change the sheets. Still, I try to keep this a weekly thing. If I can remember to do it before bedtime, I'm golden. If I continue to stay up too late, it doesn't get done in a timely manner. Is that gross? Probably.

#6: Trash. I am surprised this doesn't go out more frequently. Somehow, we haven't had a ton of actual trash. It's more about the recycling. Of course, if something smells or is full, we take it out right away. But usually we do the bathroom bins once a week on trash night. The kitchen has been mostly once a week since we started composting. There are always exceptions to the rule, but -- yeah.

Less Often

#1: So, we don't really vacuum upstairs all that often. It's a mix of being too lazy to take the vacuum up the stairs and the fact that we don't wear shoes or eat much up there, so there's less mess to contend with. I'd say we end up doing it every other week or every three weeks (is that awful? it's been working well for us!).

#2: I have this thing about cleaning our windows. I mean, most people I talk to don't worry about it but once a season. I really like to give ours a good scrub once a month or so. I think having plantation shutters also exposes more dust that needs to be cleaned. So, I use some homemade cleaners and spritz everything about once a month.

#3: Dusting. I feel kind of weird admitting that I don't like to dust, so I don't do it often. I mean, dust accumulates, but it never seems terribly overpowering to me. If if notice a lot of dust, I'll of course wipe it up. Otherwise, I'd say I don't dust more than once a month. I think that's one benefit of having less furniture, too!

#4: OK, so I do a surface cleaning of the kitchen every day and it keeps things sane for a while. I do a deep clean probably every three weeks to a month. Like wiping out and clearing out the refrigerator. Cleaning the (outside) of the stove. Digging into the pantries to see what's expired. That kind of stuff. In an ideal world, I'd do this weekly or every other week.

#5: Wiping down furniture. I clean off the dining set about once a month unless I see something on it from an afternoon art project. We also recently washed and conditioned our leather couch after about a year of letting it go. We should probably vacuum under couch cushions more regularly. And one area I'm always embarrassed about? Underneath our bed. I don't know how so many clothes, toys, dust bunnies, etc. end up there . . . but they do, in droves.

#6: Closets. As we've gotten rid of more, we've needed to clean our closets far less often. Only a few sets of sheets helps with the linen closet. Fewer clothes means less mess in our bedroom closets. The worst closet in the house, though, is in the craft room. When I say we're mostly done with our leaning out, it's because the office/craft room is still a mishmash of things. We're working on it, and I hope to do a before/after really soon!

So, that's our general cleaning schedule. I have probably forgotten something major and you've all wondering WHY I don't clean whatever it is . . . but I assure you, there's nothing smelly or too terribly disgusting lurking inside these walls.

Happy Friday, friends!

// RELATED

Green in 15: Revamping Your Cleaning
DIY Natural Lotion Cubes
Powerful DIY Laundry Detergent
Cleaning with Vinegar
5 Green Cleaners That Work
5-Minute Homemade Deodorant
8 Ways We've Eliminated Plastics
Cleaning Produce The Natural Way
Chemical-Free Clean With Castile Soap


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5-Minute Chocolate Pie + Friday Things

I am in love with pies you can process and pour into a pre-made graham cracker crust. It's like instant dessert, but it tastes like it took so much longer to prepare. So, to start your weekend, I thought I'd share the pie I made to celebrate Pi day earlier this week. You can whip this up in mere minutes before dinner or, well, just whenever.

It's sort of healthy, too:

5-MINUTE CHOCOLATE + BLACK BEAN PIE

What you'll need . . .

• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can coconut cream, drain any liquid out
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or to taste)
• 1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust

Method . . .

1. Blend together the black beans, coconut cream, and cocoa powder in a food processor.
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips, stirring continuously.
3. Add the chocolate to your mixture and blend until well incorporated.
4. Add the maple syrup, adjusting to your preferred sweetness.
5. Pour filling into your crust. Let set in the fridge for 1 or more hours.

For a different twist on the no-bake pie, check out this delicious Peanut Butter Pie that uses many of the same ingredients. And if you're curious, kids love this pie even with the black beans inside. At least Ada does, and she's pretty picky, so there's that!

// Friday Things Quickie

Reads:

• Watch elderly runners crush the 100 meter dash
• Baby tech is sold on fear, not practicality
• Honest Company under fire for not being so honest
• Your kitchen: Splurge on this, save on that
• Don't let these 6 home decor flaws ruin your house hunt
• How to stop ordering takeout and start saving money  

Things:

• This essential oil diffuser (review coming soon!) 
• These awesome + affordable sandals by Dr. Scholl's 
• These comfortable + seamless leggings for pregnancy on super sale
• This fun way to color eggs without chemicals
• This natural rubber duckie perfect for little Easter baskets

We're taking our family movie night out tonight and going to the theater to see Zootopia. Have you seen it yet? Ada's psyched!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

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Green in 15: No More Paper Towels

I've been meaning to post about our no paper towels system for ages. It's not that it's complicated or fussy. It was laziness on getting a good photo. I figured I need to get over that part and just post about it already! So, here's my latest installment of Green in 15, all about banishing paper towels from your home.

Here you go:

NO MORE PAPER TOWELS

• Basically, we have 25-35 assorted towels. Some are flour sacks, some are nubby bar cloths, some are tea towels, and there are a few stray rags and washcloths in there, too.
• We hung a fabric tote (similar to this one) containing all towels using some hooks in the closet right off the kitchen. I think this space was originally a utility closet, but it's quite small. Our vacuum doesn't fit very well, so I like using it for this purpose.
• Underneath, we have a slim Simple Human Trash Can lined with a diaper pail liner to collect all the dirty rags.
• You take a clean rag, use it up, and when it's dirty -- toss it into the bin. Easy, right? 
• When the bin gets full, we grab the liner and take it downstairs to wash everything. We usually have a good stock of towels to use on wash day (and only do laundry once or twice a week).
• We don't take the time to fold the towels. We simply toss them into the bin. We use the towels for general kitchen cleanup, napkins at dinner, and general cleaning tasks. 
• Though they're all tossed in together, we use the nubbier cloths to do heavy cleaning, the flour sacks for everyday kitchen spills and even helping bread rise (in place of plastic wrap), and the tea towels for napkins. It's not always perfect, but it works.
• To wash, we use our homemade laundry detergent and pour some vinegar into the rinse. They don't smell, though some do have stains from heavy use.

And that's really it!

You may already have towels on hand and some of the other supplies you need to get a system like this going. Mostly it's a matter of finding nooks and crannies to store everything into. You could probably sneak something like this on a smaller scale underneath your kitchen sink or in an unoccupied kitchen cabinet.

Those of you who don't use paper towels, what do your system look like?

// RELATED

Green in 15: Revamping Your Cleaning
DIY Natural Lotion Cubes
Powerful DIY Laundry Detergent
Cleaning with Vinegar
5 Green Cleaners That Work
5-Minute Homemade Deodorant
8 Ways We've Eliminated Plastics
Cleaning Produce The Natural Way
Chemical-Free Clean With Castile Soap

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3-Ingredient DIY Face Scrub Vlog

Happy Friday, friends! Here’s a weekend project you can knock out in only a couple minutes, but the reward will last much, much longer. I love exfoliating scrubs for my face. My combination skin requires both gentle and more powerful cleansers, though. Since a lot of scrubs on the market contain those plastic microbeads, I started making my own at home.

This recipe is safe for pregnancy, contains just three ingredients, and will last a good month or more in an airtight container. Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel to get more fun videos like these! (Oh, and don’t mind my wicked-awful roots. Going blonde before pregnancy wasn’t the smartest idea, right?)

BASIC DIY FACE SCRUB

You’ll need . . . 

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup unrefined coconut oil

TO MAKE: Just mix together everything in a food processor, pour into an airtight container, and love your skin! For best results, use only once a day (or less frequently) and scrub gently.




Here’s some facial scrub inspiration:

• Lemon + Sugar Body/Face Scrub
• Baking Soda Exfoliator
• Tea Tree Coconut Oil Face Scrub

* One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that the feel of the scrub, especially after rinsing your face, does take some adjustment. It initially leaves an oily residue that comes off 90% when you towel dry. The hint of oil left behind provides some nice moisturize -- especially this time of year.


More homemade beauty products, etc.:

• DIY Natural Lotion Cubes
• 5-minute Homemade Deodorant
• No More Shampoo, Really!
• Homesteading // Cleaning with Baking Soda

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Christmas Morning Pancakes

I’ve been trying the last few years to find or create THE recipe that will be part of our Christmas morning for years to come. This year, I finally figured it out . . . and it’s a good one. I was searching around for a good egg-free pancake recipe. The kind that melt in your mouth, but are oh-so fluffy.

These are IT, guys.

I took the photo with my phone because I’m still in the stage of needing to eat ASAP or I’ll get sick. But progress, right?! Recipes = progress . . . .

CHRISTMAS MORNING KEFIR PANCAKES

Based on this Egg-Free Buttermilk Pancakes recipe.

What you’ll need . . . 

• 2 cups flour (I used a mix of all purpose and wheat pastry)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• Pinch salt
• 2 cups kefir 
• 2 tablespoons coconut milk (or water)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup frozen or fresh berries, rinsed well*
• Mini chocolate chips (optional)

* I used a frozen berry mix with blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.

Method . . . 

1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Then add the kefir, coconut milk, and oil.
3. Mix until everything is moistened, but it can still be lumpy. Don’t over-mix.
4. After you rinse your berries (until the water runs clear for the frozen ones!) pat them dry with a tea towel or paper towel. Then gently fold them into the batter.
5. Cook heaping half cups on medium-high (or so) heat until golden on both sides. Before you flip, sprinkle the mini chocolate chips onto the uncooked side. 
6. Serve with pure maple syrup.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie

Another recipe! I’ll admit that my reprieve from sickness didn’t last long (maybe 1-1/2 days), but it was long enough for me to make this guy. A no-bake coconut cream peanut butter pie with a black bean chocolate ganache. Sounds so weird, but I assure you it’s delicious.

Also: All the cooking or baking I do lately is the cheater way.

For this dessert, I used a pre-made (gluten-free) graham cracker crust.

No regrets.

NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER PIE

*Vegan provided you use dairy-free chocolate.

What you’ll need . . . 

For the filling:

• 1 can coconut cream, just the cream (save liquid)
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch sea salt

For the ganache:

• 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed
• 1 tablespoon coconut liquid
• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Method . . . 

1. Place the filling ingredients in a bowl and beat together with a hand mixer (or use a stand mixer) until smooth. I used 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and it was actually quite sweet, so try 1 to start.
2. Pour this mix into your pie crust and refrigerate for half an hour.
3. In a food processor, blend together the black beans with the tablespoon of coconut liquid.
4. Then on your stovetop, melt the coconut oil over low heat and add in the bittersweet chocolate (if you’re using a bar, cut it up into tiny pieces).
5. Add the chocolate to the beans and blend in the processor until smooth.
6. Then gently spread this “ganache” over the peanut butter layer. Then put everything in the fridge for an hour or so to firm up.

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Mango Lassi with Kefir

A recipe! I’m trying not to jinx myself, but I’ve been feeling relatively OK the last couple days. I do have some notes from when I was pregnant with Ada, and I remember having a few no-nausea days only to have it come back full force. I’ll take what I can get. I’m also starting to wonder if my diet has something to do with feeling better.

Until last week, I had been eating a lot of sugar. It wasn’t that I really wanted to, necessarily. But I noticed I’d stop getting sick if I continually fed the sugar and carb monster. Then I’d inevitably crash, feel worse nausea than ever, and the whole cycle would start over again. After finding out I have a asymptomatic UTI from strep B (different from just testing positive at the end of pregnancy -- ugh), I’m on antibiotics, so I’ve been careful about my probiotic intake and cutting back on the sugar, which can feed infection.

This is a long intro to my new favorite smoothie. It’s a "mango lassi" made with -- you guessed it -- kefir. I’ve been drinking kefir off and on for a few years, but I always fall out of the habit. It’s really good for you if you stick with the plain variety. And I know lots of people make their own at home, too.

Just blend together . . .

• 1 cup plain kefir
• 1/2 cup (heaping!) frozen or fresh mango
• Fresh mint (to garnish -- I don’t have any this time of year)

I’ve been buying the Siggi’s filmjork (it’s a lot like kefir) at Wegmans. It’s my favorite and it’s not loaded with sugar. It’s also pasteurized, which is important during pregnancy. (I know people have different opinions on food dos and don’ts, but I stick on the safer side after doing some research about how pregnant women are way more susceptible to food illnesses when pregnant.)

Also: My VillaWare blender has been working REALLY well! I’m so glad I didn’t invest in anything more expensive this time around.

I’m also taking a probiotic supplement. Ever since I started adding the probiotics into my diet and lessening my sugar, I haven’t actually been sick (you know what I mean) and have only had some mild episodes of nausea. I am also getting closer to 12 weeks, so that might be to thank as well. Whatever works.

Only time will tell. But I hope you enjoy this recipe. It’s easy to make + super satisfying.

HAPPY TUESDAY!

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Pumpkin + Pecan Apple Crisp

My mom had certain desserts she liked to bake. I remember a few out of the rotation best. Chocolate chip cookies, of course. Then there was chocolate chip cookie pie (oh, I cannot wait to recreate this recipe sometime!). And apple crisp was probably the healthiest of the bunch.

After our epic apple-picking adventure this weekend, I knew I wanted to make up some apple crisp. But I wanted to try something new. (Check out Basil Apple Crisp.) So, I decided to add some pumpkin, pecans, and make the recipe bigger than my normal batches.

And I’m currently eating this dish for breakfast.

PUMPKIN + PECAN APPLE CRISP

What you’ll need . . . 

• 10 small to medium apples, peeled + cored 
• Juice from one fresh lemon
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar*
• 1 (heaping) tablespoon maple syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon (or more) ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
• 1-1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats (uncooked)
• 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar*
• 1/4 cup flour (or more, depending)
• 1/2 cup pecans (pulsed into a meal in your food processor)
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Earth Balance (or butter, substitute, etc.)

* I used Better Body’s Coconut Palm Sugar, but you can substitute in brown or granulated sugar.

Method . . . 

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 in baking pan (I used glass) and set aside.
2. Once you peel, core, and chop your apples, toss them with the lemon juice, pumpkin puree, coconut sugar, cinnamon, flour, and arrowroot powder in a bowl. Pour this mixture into your prepared pan.
3. Using the same bowl (with all the pumpkin-y leftovers from the apple mixture), toss together the rolled oats, coconut sugar, flour, pecans, cinnamon, and then work the Earth Balance into the mixture with your fingers until it’s crumbly. You may want to add more flour if the mixture is too wet. I added a few more tablespoons until it was still crumbly, but not greasy.
4. Distribute the topping over the apples, and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. You want the top to be golden brown and the apples to be cooked through.

Enjoy!

RELATED RECIPES

Basil Apple Crisp

Apple + Pumpkin Spice Stew
Apple Oat Bars
5-Minute “Baked” Apples
Morning Glory Muffins
15-Minute Applesauce
Spiced Applesauce Biscuits
Applesauce Coffee Cake

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DIY // 5-Minute Fall Wreath

I’ve taken our fall decorating to the extreme this year. Between the Indian corn, decorative gourds, pumpkins, and mums . . . I think we’ve covered. I’ve always had this vision of hanging some indoor wreaths in our living room, so I went to Michael’s yesterday to check out prices.

Whoa, nelly! Even with a 50 percent off promotion, they were like $20 to $35 per wreath. And I need TWO. So, I decided to take a trek and see what I might find to DIY. Here’s what I came up with for just $10 and five minutes of my time!

DIY FALL WREATH

What you’ll need . . . 

• 16 inch grapevine wreath ($4.99)*
• Bundle of blooms ($4.99)
• Chalkboard tag ($1.99)
• Yarn or twine
• Chalk

* ALWAYS take a coupon to stores like Michael’s, A.C. Moore, etc. You can find coupons right on the website. I got 40 percent off the wreath, bringing my project cost to just $10.

Method . . . 

1. First and foremost, there’s no right or wrong way to do this project. 
2. I found that blooms with longer stems worked well because I didn’t need to glue them into place. I just poked the stems through the wreath and tucked in the leftovers. If you don’t like how it looks, take it out and start again. I arranged all the blooms on the bottom of the wreath, but you can do whatever you like.
3. You can also hot glue acorns, pine cones, and other free stuff from nature onto your wreath. Go wild.
4. Then wrap some yarn on the top and loop your tag through a few times to secure.
5. Tie of off in the back and then add another small segment of yarn to create a hanger.
6. Draw something fun on the tag. A heart is really unoriginal, but I like it.
7. And you’re done!

Thanks for weighing in about our painted piano situation. As a musician, I understand some of the concerns with regard to the instrument’s timbre, etc. But honestly? It’s not the best sounding piano, it’s actually got a wood veneer on it versus solid wood, and from what I’m read -- any impact would be minimal. I was going to try chalk paint but have decided to just use chalkboard paint instead (you have to use wax every few months on the chalk paint -- ehhhh).

I’ll be back soon with some thoughts on sibling age gaps and more musings.

More fall essentials:


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Comfort Food // Stuffed Shells

Sometimes you just need comfort food. Yesterday was surely the day for me. Bonus points if it takes only minutes to come together. I haven’t made stuffed shells in ages, so I dug up my old favorite recipe and got to work. This is a great meal to make with little ones (easy stuffing!) and bakes up in just half an hour.

Also, random question: Have you guys seen whole wheat, sprouted, or otherwise “healthier” jumbo shells? I performed a rather thorough search of Wegmans and only found the standard type.

STUFFED SHELLS w/ GREENS

What you’ll need . . .

• 1 package jumbo shells
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese, part-skim
• 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 handfuls baby kale, baby spinach, or mix
• 1 jar (24 ounce) your favorite tomato sauce
• Bunch fresh basil
• Garlic powder
• Ground pepper
• Handful mozzarella
• Sprinkles Parmesan 

Method . . . 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F*.
2. Cook shells in boiling water for 9 minutes and drain (will be al dente). Let cool a bit while you mix the filling.
3. Chop the greens and basil considerably. Then combine them with the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan (no need to measure the cheeses carefully -- add more if you wish), and a dash of garlic powder + pepper.
4. Pour half the tomato sauce on a greased 9x13 pan. I used glass.
5. Stuff shells with filling. Then line them up next to one another until your pan is full. I always have some shells leftover. Ada likes them plain, so I just save in a baggie to re-heat. 
6. Then cover with the rest of the tomato sauce, sprinkle on some more mozzarella + Parmesan, and cover with foil.
7. Bake for 30 minutes. Then take the cover off and broil for a couple minutes until browned. Let cool a while before serving.

* Alternatively, you can prepare this meal in advance, cover + place in your fridge, and bake whenever you’re ready to eat. That’s another reason I love this meal so much.

// GIVEAWAY WINNER

Congrats to Katrina, the Magformers giveaway winner. Katrina says "My little guy plays with them at the library. We would build a school because he loves playing school.” I’ll be in touch with you soon regarding your prize.

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Super Easy Veggie Pasta Pot

I’ve pulled the slow cooker out of its summer hiding spot deep in our pantry. Yes. Even though this week wouldn’t have you believe it with crazy high temps -- it’s almost fall. Back-to-school. Busy season. And I can always use help in the kitchen.

Thing is, I’m tired of all my go-to crock pot recipes. Time to try something new. Will you join me? I’m on a quest to breathe life back into our dinners all while putting forth little effort. Like I wrote on Thursday’s post, I made this recipe after seeing the Summer Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe on Oh My Veggies with only a few modifications.

Behold:

VEGGIE PASTA POT

What you’ll need . . . 

• 1 medium onion 
• 1 large zucchini or summer squash
• 1 medium eggplant
• 1 medium head of broccoli
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• Large bell pepper
• Couple cloves garlic
• Linguine or other pasta noodles, uncooked*
• Jar (24 ounces) of pasta sauce (homemade is easy + delish)
• Shredded mozzarella (I used fresh)
• Parmesan 

Try to get as many of these ingredients from your garden or friends’ gardens as possible. Don’t necessarily stick to this list exactly -- keep it flexible. Use whatever is fresh and in your kitchen already. Just be sure to substitute ingredients in similar amounts so it’ll all fit in the pot.

* I used spinach linguine. I don’t know this for sure, but I don’t think cappellini would work best in this recipe. it might get too mushy. Prove me wrong!

Method . . . 

1. Chop all ingredients into chunks. Halve cherry tomatoes. Mince garlic. Then on your stovetop, heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil and cook the garlic and onions over medium heat until the onions have softened.
2. Add the rest of the veggies -- saving the tomatoes until last -- and cook until everything is slightly softened but still somewhat crunchy. Season with some salt + pepper to taste.
3. In your crock pot, pour around a half cup of sauce at the bottom. Then layer on some pasta.
4. OK. So, I didn’t measure my pasta layers exactly. Take a small handful of pasta, crack it in half, and make a thin layer. Too much? Take some out. Too little? Add. It’s not about being exact. Check out my photo for reference.
5. Cover the pasta with about a third of the veggies you cooked. Then top that with another 1/2 cup pasta sauce and then a 1/3 cup (or so) of mozzarella.
6. Repeat this layering until you run out of space or ingredients. Just make sure you top everything off with tomato sauce, cheese, and then the Parmesan. 
7. Cook on LOW for three to four hours. We had to go out on an errand partway through cooking, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving the pot on since it’s kind of old. Anyway, I stopped cooking mine for an hour at the two hour mark and resumed later. Turned out great!
8. Then let sit for half an hour to cool slightly and scoop out heaping servings. I didn’t get a photo of the end result. Just picture a bowl of steaming veggies, noodles, cheese, and sauce.

This is such a great way to get tons of veggies into your tummy. If you’re vegan, feel free to leave out the cheese, use your favorite substitute, or sprinkle some nutritional yeast in the pot. The leftovers are even better. We saved some in our freezer for a rainy day. Ada even asked for a second helping!

So, one recipe down. What should I try next?

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DIY Stair Runner // $60

We’ve been wanting to do a runner in our front entryway for almost a year. When we moved in, the stairs and entry floor were covered by dingy white carpeting. We ripped it up almost immediately. We covered the entry floor with inexpensive vinyl tile + grout and left the steps naked . . . until today.

I got this crazy idea to do a DIY stair runner using cheap rag rugs from Ollie’s (a discount store chain). They’re only a couple dollars each, and this project only cost us $60 and about 90 minutes of our time. A lot less than the $400 we paid in our last house to get a boring carpet runner professionally installed.

Here’s how we did it:

SUPPLIES

• 7 x rag rugs at $5.99/each = $42*
• Non-slip runner pad = $12
• Double sided carpet tape = $6 (like these)
• Staple gun = Already owned (DeWalt for $26)
• 3/8” to 1/2” staples = Already owned (like these)
• Scissors 
• Measuring tape
• Hammer

* If you can’t find these locally, you can browse some on here. The size we used was approx. 2x3.

Total: $60

INSTRUCTIONS 

Like I said, I followed the tips on this tutorial. We also sort of just freehanded it once we got going. The first step was measuring the steps to see how many rugs we needed. You guys know I’m addicted to rag rugs, so I just used one I had in the width I wanted on the stairs to see how many I’d need.

When I got to the store, I didn’t have too many choices for patterns and colors because I needed 7 in all. Luckily, I really liked the one I was able to find. I bought 7 and then hopped over to the hardware store to get my other supplies.

When I got home, I measured the width of the stairs and marked the center on each with pen (I’d be covering it over anyway!). Then I cut the anti-slip pad so it would be a couple inches shy of the step from front to back and a couple inches short of the rug from side to side. I folded each in half and made another mark that I could align while taping.


Then I cut strips of the tape to adhere each pad to each step. I lined up the marks and did one per step.

Staple time! We started at the top of the steps and just lined up the top of the rug with the first step. We stapled in a line every couple inches. Then on the edges every couple inches. Then a couple other places. I followed the YHL tutorial for this part.


We didn’t do anything fancy for the seams. Thankfully they met on the under part of each step, so we didn’t have to deal with anything tricky where we’d be walking. Instead of overlapping, we just pulled the edges close together and stapled. It ended up working great.

We made our way down the rest of the stairs -- measuring periodically to center the rugs -- and when we reached the bottom, we cut the excess with several inches to spare. We tucked the excess under and stapled to finish.


I also found it really helpful to go back over some of the staples and hammer them deeper into the rug. There are a few that are still somewhat noticeable, so we’re planning to color them blue with a Sharpie when we get the chance.


End result:


We’re both really pleased with how it looks. It adds a lot of style to the space. Better yet, it added some nice traction to the stairs (they’re quite slippery without a runner). There’s some definite sound absorption going on, too. We still need to touch up some wood that was damaged when we pulled the old carpet off the steps, but this is a huge improvement.

I’ll be sure to let you know how this holds up. For $60, I think it’s a win. I would have liked to get a couple spare rugs as replacements in case something happens. They didn’t have any more in the same pattern, so I might check back in a few weeks.

One last before + after.


PS: I’ll share more about our new closet door in another house post soon.

For now, don’t forget to enter the Gallery Direct #giveaway.

I’ll be announcing the winner tomorrow morning!

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