Makeup Drawer Overhaul

Hey girls,
  I have been struggling with my makeup drawer for a while now and finally got around to re-organizing everything. I had a friend suggest that I do a post about it to give ideas so here it is. :)

For the record, I am embarrassed to share the before picture cause it had become SO out of control however, I did have it looking better before a certain (almost) 2 year old decided to dump the contents all over the drawer.  I'm sure none of you can relate to that. ;)

Here is how I have been living with my makeup drawer: I had most of my stuff in 2 different makeup bags that worked okay but I was constantly searching for things and they would get messy being all together like that.

Pretty bad, huh? It was downright embarrassing.
Now here is the after pic:

I got this amazing drawer set at Homegoods along with the cute little jar to hold q-tips. Eventually I want to get a separate jar to hold brushes in so they can stand up but still have a lid to protect from dust.

It's so handy that there is a smaller drawer on top for all my eyewear (eye cream), eye shadow etc and then deeper drawers below to hold foundation, powders, brushes and blush etc.

I am so happy with the results and wishing I had done it a long time ago!  If I really needed to conserve space on my countertop, I could simply put this entire thing in a cupboard and still have it ready to go at any time.  I highly recommend it if you have a need for more organization in your life.  =)

Happy Organizing!

XOXO

Joy

What's in Your Cooking oil?

Choosing the right oil to cook with can be confusing as there are many different theories out there as to which is the best and why.  Lately there is a huge push to use olive oil for everything so of course Canola oil has come out with new adds as to why they are healthier than olive oil.  I thought I would explain which oil is a good choice for what and why (to the best that I can!).

Canola Oil and/or Vegetable Oil: 

1.  Over 90% of Canola Oil is genetically modified.  (if you haven't looked into GMO products, find out about why they're not good for you here).
2.  Canola Oil is surprisingly high in trans fatty acids and is extremely processed:
According to the Weston A. Price foundation and Fat Experts Sally Fallon and Mary Enig state:
“Like all modern vegetable oils, canola oil goes through the process of refining, bleaching and degumming -all of which involve high temperatures or chemicals of questionable safety. And because canola oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which easily become rancid and foul-smelling when subjected to oxygen and high temperatures, it must be deodorized. The standard deodorization process removes a large portion of the omega-3 fatty acids by turning them into trans fatty acids. Although the Canadian government lists the trans content of canola at a minimal 0.2 percent, research at the University of Florida at Gainesville, found trans levels as high as 4.6 percent in commercial liquid oil. The consumer has no clue about the presence of trans fatty acids in canola oil because they are not listed on the label.”

To see more about Canola Oil, read here.

Vegetable Oil is derived from the same seed that Canola oil is (rapeseed) plus soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn etc.  This means that Vegetable Oil is also genetically modified and is very high in trans fats too.  To see a more on vegetable Oil and MARGARINE, read here.

Please note that Margarine is the same as Canola or Vegetable oil and should also be avoided.

Olive Oil:

1.  Olive oil is good for you because it is high in monosaturated fat (think "natural" or God-made fat - aka, man doesn't have to create it because it's naturally found in foods).
2.  "Virgin" or "Extra Virgin" refers to the process with which the oil is made.  Buying a virgin or extra virgin oil means less processing of the oil to make it ( as in, they squeezed the olive and out came a drop of oil).
3.  While it is a healthy oil, it has been grossly misunderstood by the general public in terms of using it as a cooking oil.  Olive oil has a low smoke point (or is not stable at a high heat).  Cooking with it on a higher temperature will decompose the oil and change the antioxidants in the oil to free radicals (which you do not want - they are cancer causing!).

This oil is best used cold or slightly warm.  I use it for dressings or dipping bread in but I never cook with it.

Coconut Oil:

 1.  The reasons to use this oil are so numerous that it really makes it the best choice when choosing a cooking oil:
  -Helps mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria
  -Fights off yeast, fungus and candida
  -Positively affects hormones for thyroid and blood sugar control
  -Improves insulin use within the body
  -Increases metabolism, energy and endurance (because your body treats it like a protein and not a fat so instead of storing it, it burns it first)
  -Increases digestion and helps to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (found in vegetables)
  -Contains lauric acid which increases good cholesterol in the blood stream
There are many more benefits to using this oil - too many for me to get them all down here.  To read more about coconut oil see here.
  2.  Coconut oil has a high smoking point so cooking with it will not turn it rancid.

For a guide on how to choose the best coconut oil see here.

Real Butter:

  1.  Butter is rich in cancer-fighting fats (the same fats found in coconut oil)
  2.  Butter protects against degenerative arthritis
  3.  Butter promotes a healthy brain and nervous system because it's high in cholesterol (something our bodies need to develop properly)
  4.  Butter protects the gut:
  "Butterfat contains glycospingolipids, a special category of fatty acids that protect against gastro-intestinal infection, especially in the very young and the elderly. For this reason, children who drink skim milk have diarrhea at rates three to five times greater than children who drink whole milk. Cholesterol in butterfat promotes health of the intestinal wall and protects against cancer of the colon. Short and medium chain fatty acids protect against pathogens and have strong anti-fungal effects. Butter thus has an important role to play in the treatment of candida overgrowth."
To see more on why butter is a health food read here.

I hope this list helps you to at least be comfortable with knowing which oils are good for cooking and eating and why!  I am no expert, this is all just information that I have gleaned over the years in my health transformation.  I know that coconut oil/olive oil and butter has played a big role in helping me maintain a smaller frame while being healthier overall.  

Good luck!

XOXO

Joy

Headbands and Leather Leggings

I know that I have posted before about leather leggings but I seriously love mine so much and use them a LOT.  Now that I am pregnant, I am still using them (so far!) by just rolling the front down so that there is room for the little belly I am getting.  They are so comfortable and hide more flaws than regular leggings do that I just can't stay away from them.

On another topic, my sister opened her own store selling handmade headbands, quilts and other fun things that you guys seriously need to check out!  Getting good quality, homemade items is such a rare thing now days and usually they are so spendy.  She is totally reasonably priced and does amazing work.  I am in awe of her talent (and she thinks it's FUN)!  =)  Go to www.redrainbootshandmade.bigcartel.com and check out her stuff!

She sent me this amazing, reversible headband that is quickly becoming a new staple in my hair department these days.  It fits perfectly.  I hate when headbands are too tight and this one is just right.  It doesn't slip and isn't too tight plus it has two cute sides to it so I can switch up my look easily. I decided to do a giveaway so make sure to read all the way to the bottom to find out how to enter!!

I chose to wear mine in a more "hippie" style for this look but it's also a wonderful band to wear with a pony tail, up-do or just normally with your hair down.

Peter insisted that I do a couple shots without the sweater (he hates that sweater).  I don't particularly feel comfortable wearing this look without it but if I was home I totally would.

I had to throw in one more of the headband because it is seriously so cute and totally made this whole outfit!

Outfit:

Leather Leggings:  Forever 21 (last year)

Tank top:  Motherhood Maternity Outlet Store

Sweater:  Macy's Material Girls line (last year)

Headband:  www.redrainbootshandmade.bigcartel.com

Okay, now for the giveaway info:  Go to Julia's website at www.redrainbootshandmade.bigcartel.com   and pick out which headband you want, then post a pic of it to instagram/fb and tag myself and her (redrainbootshandmade).  Good luck!  We will be doing the drawing on Friday, the 31st - Halloween!  We will do a follow up post plus put it on Instagram so make sure to follow her and tag her in your picture too!  

XOXO

Joy

Broccoli, Cheddar Quiche with a Quinoa Crust

We love to eat quiche but sometimes I hesitate to make it because it requires a pie crust (and I like my pie crusts with white flour). Because the pie crust is essentially "empty calories", I don't view it as a meal I can really fill up on and so that's what makes me hesitate. I love to fill up nice and full at dinner time so I want my calories to count.

I came across a recipe for quiche made with a quinoa crust and I was immediately interested.

This broccoli, cheddar quiche turned out quite amazing and made for great leftovers that I ate for breakfast for several days.  The quinoa held up great as a crust plus you have the added protein which makes this a very filling meal.

You could easily substitute  veggies and just use whatever you have on hand.  I almost used spinach as I love spinach in my quiche.

Begin with mixing up your Quinoa Crust:

In a bowl combine:
2 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
1 tsp dried mustard
1 tsp turmeric
1 egg
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix this up and press into a greased pie pan.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes until it begins to crisp and looks golden brown.

For your Filling, mix together:

5 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
Salt
1/8th a teaspoon of cayenne pepper (My Mom taught me that this is the secret ingredient to any quiche)

I used leftover, steamed broccoli that I chopped up into pieces but if you don't have any leftover, you'll need to steam some first.

Place your broccoli in the pan first, followed by cheese.  Pouring the egg mixture over the cheese allows the cheese to bake into the egg mixture plus some will float to the top and give a nice cover while not burning.

Once your egg mixture is in, you are ready to bake!  Put it into your oven at 375 for 35-40 minutes or until it appears set and cheese is bubbly. It will still be slightly jiggly when you take it out of the oven which is fine because it will continue to bake in the pan.  Let it sit for 15 minutes once cooked in order to finish cooking.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Joy

Pregnancy Fitness Tips

I have so many friends who are expecting right now and it is a joy to be surrounded by so much life and love. There is nothing quite so special as a newborn little baby to snuggle.  I have had some of you ask me for pregnancy fitness tips so I figured I would write a blog about it.  =)  Now, I have only done one full pregnancy (and now part of a second time) so I'm not claiming to be an expert on pregnancy and how to keep fit during it. That being said, feel free to take this and do with it what you will.  I think the key to a successful pregnancy (and baby) is to find what works for you and makes your family successful.  You will have to find time for fitness if you want to try to keep up with that so find what works with your schedule and stick to it!  I promise, promise, promise that it will pay off in the long run!  You will pay the Piper at some point and I would much rather it be during pregnancy versus afterwards when all I want to do is enjoy my new baby.

Here are some of the benefits of working out during pregnancy:

-Increased energy levels
-Increased desire to eat healthy versus "what sounds good"
-Strength to go through labor
-Keeps things "moving" in your system better (aka working out does what fiber intake does ;))
-Makes you feel good about yourself and your body as it changes
-Helps control weight gain
-Promotes water intake (working out makes you thirsty!)
-Gives your skin that "glow"
-Prevents pregnancy insomnia

There are also benefits from working out during pregnancy that I experienced AFTER birth (even though I was not working out at the time):

-Faster recovery
-Lost the "baby weight" without working out or dieting
-Mentally felt better about myself and my appearance knowing that I had worked hard and now could rest

With all of these benefits, you can see that keeping fit during pregnancy can play a vital role in your health and the health of your baby!  When you are growing a little life, you should be your most healthy because you are setting up your child for success in health as well!

First Trimester Fitness Tips:
Okay, during the first trimester you need to give yourself a break.  I think there were several weeks in there where I did not  make it to the gym due to the nausea/fatigue/puking etc.  This is also not the
time to stress about your diet!  TRY to make as healthy choices as possible but hey, we all have times where all you can choke down is a bean and cheese burrito from taco bell and that's okay. I remember that I told myself that once I started feeling better, I would get back to my healthy habits - that just because the first trimester was hard and there were exceptions, it did not mean that I would just go downhill from there. :)
  I consciously "switched" my "mealplans" during first trimester.  AKA, before pregnancy, I ate 3 square meals a day and focused on lighter, more paleo/grain free style meals with dinner being a time to have a grain.  Once I was in first trimester, I had to eat a lot in the mornings and a good lunch but by dinner time, I could usually stomach a salad and an overall lighter meal.  So I switched my heavier, "carb" meal to be breakfast and somewhat lunch, then a lighter meal for dinner.  That's what worked for me.  Find when you don't HAVE to eat as much and try to work your meals around that.  Technically you only need around 300 calories more a day when you are preggo (which is about a half a peanut butter sandwich) so every meal doesn't need to be huge.

Find what time of day you feel up to getting in a walk or going to the gym and do it.  Late afternoons were the ticket for me during this time so I tried to make time for that.  Like I said, it's okay if you are just too tired but remember that your energy levels will increase with some exercise so even though you don't feel like it, it will make you feel better!
 If you find the tine of day when you feel up to working out, go ahead and do what you were doing before - no need to change it simply because you are pregnant (unless your doctor tells you otherwise).  If you weren't doing anything before, start with  brisk walking and some weight training.  I love the stairmaster because it gives my legs a good strength and cardio workout without hurting my belly like running sometimes did.  You can also find a prenatal yoga or pilates class and join one!

Second and Third Trimester Fitness Tips:
Pay attention to your body as you enter second trimester to watch for signs that you can start getting back on the health bandwagon.  Even though I was still puking, I did have more energy and I could
begin to eat more healthy things (veggies, salad etc).  I began to get up and get my workout in first
thing in the morning before work because it started my day off really well and gave me more energy during work.  I also was super tired in the evenings so I knew that if I waited, it wouldn't get done.

My workout schedule consisted of 4 mornings a week:  Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday.  I gave myself a break on Wednesdays and the weekends so that I wouldn't get burnt out.  I also walked everyday at my lunch break (20 minute walk) just to get moving a little since I was at a desk a lot.

My actual workout consisted of 20-25 minutes of cardio (stairmaster/treadmill combo mostly) and then 20 minutes of weight training.  I rotated which body parts I was working on for weights by following this combination:

Day 1:  Legs
Day 2:  Back and Biceps (think "pull" machines/muscles)
Day 3:  Chest and Triceps (think "push" machines/muscles)
Day 4:  Legs

Day 1 (Week 2):  Back and Biceps
Day 2 (Week 2) Chest and Triceps
Day 3 (Week 2) Legs
Day 4 (Week 2) Back and Biceps

ETC
So you continuously rotate which body part you work on and each week there will be one section that gets hit twice.

Remember, find what works for you.  If you like classes then join classes!  If you want to workout from home, buy a yoga mat and some dumbbells and get started!  Just DO something.  It will work
wonders for you and for your baby.

Try to make your calories count and fill up on lots of fresh produce and good quality protein.  You need 80 grams of protein a day but can only absorb 20 grams at a time which means you need to be consuming protein every few hours.  I ate a morning and afternoon snack which centered around protein.  Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit makes a good, filling snack.  I also ate a lot of apples with almond butter or peanut butter as well as hard boiled eggs


The better choices you make, the better you will feel!!

I hope this helps, good luck Mamas!

XOXO

Joy

2+2=4

I wanted to let you all in on some news today: Simon is going to be a big brother in the spring of 2015! We are so excited and while it has been a rougher start, we can't wait to become a family of 4. Simon is already talking about the baby and gives my belly lots of kisses.
 Speaking of bellies, I have been shocked at how quickly I have started showing this time! It took me forever to show with Simon so this experience has been vastly different already!
I am 13 weeks and due the beginning of April. We aren't sure if we are going to find out the gender but I "feel" like its a boy (could be wishful thinking for Simon to have a brother!).

We were in Colorado last week for my oldest brother's wedding so I asked my sister Julia to grab some family pictures for the announcement. She was so sweet to do it for us and did a wonderful job! Poor Simon had an accident just a couple days before and his face had some bad scabs but we still got some shots.

Dress: Motherhood Maternity Outlet

Necklace: Francesca's

Ring: Nordstrom Rack

XOXO

Joy

Upgrade your Hair!

You guys, I FINALLY caved and purchased a hair wand!  I know, I know, hair wands are probably old news to you all but I had a couple curling irons and just couldn't justify spending $ on a good wand when I didn't "need" it.  Lately I've been so frustrated with my hair.  Every time I curled it I would lose the curls within a few hours it and then I was stuck doing it again which meant double exposure on my blonde hair.  I thought it was the Oregon climate. Humidity does not bode well with achieving bombshell curls.

Then I got the Curling Wand.  

Life Changed.

With this wand, I can curl my hair (including extensions) in less than half the time it took me before with my irons AND my curls will stay for days through practically anything!  Wind, sleeping on it, workouts all have nothing on these curls.  I don't know why I waited so long to get it!  Obviously my irons were definitely going downhill and not doing their job.  That or this wand is just way better.

Another great thing about the wand? You can easily achieve all different kinds of curls very easily just by changing the angle slightly. It is seriously amazing. Lately I have been enjoying more the loose, longer waves and they look so good thanks to my wand! 

I also wanted to show you all this side by side comparison of my hair to show you the difference in the tone (a belated example for my last post.). 

This tone was the difference in one day.  I went back to my stylist after it turned out too yellow for me (pic on the right), put on a toner and voila, you have the picture on the left!  

So back to the wand, if you love to curl your hair but don't have one, I highly recommend it!  It is a great investment and totally worth the $.  It will save you time and give you curls that last through a LOT more than if you use an iron.  

I have heard great things about the Cortex wand because of the negative ions (better on your hair) so I posted a link to one below.

Have a fabulous day!

XOXO

Joy