Healthy Smoothies

To start your new year I am going to give you some down right delicious smoothies, I drink these at least once a day and find them to be filling and a great way to get my nutrients easily. *Please note that this smoothie recipe works for me and my chosen lifestyle. Also note that I am a proud breastfeeding momma so some ingredients promote milk production, & could be omitted if you are not breastfeeding. Happy blending y’all!

Banana and Peanut butter smoothie:

Two frozen bananas (pro tip: chop your bananas into pieces to make it easier on your blender).

Handful of Spinach

1 Tbl of Peanut butter

1 Tbl of hemp seeds

2 Tbl ground flax

1 Tbl Brewers yeast (could be omitted)

1/2 cup steel cut oats

1 cup almond milk

***Blend and enjoy!

Green Goddess Smoothie:

Handful of Spinach

Handful of Kale

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 cup frozen mango

1/2 of a zucchini

1 apple

2 Tbl Chia seeds

1 cup of coconut water

***Blend and enjoy!

Very Berry Smoothie:

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1/2 cup blackberries

Handful of Kale

1 cup of orange juice

1 apple

2 Tbl chia seeds

***Blend and enjoy!

3 Months Post Partum thoughts

As I sit here with a caffeine in one hand and a 3 month old in the other who likes the taste of my sweater apparently, I can not help but think about our time together. Time is such a tricky thing. When I was younger all I wanted was to grow into an adult who could make my own decisions. Ask anybody, Tory’s Fave thing to do was to be independent. I still loath being told what to do and I am 28, I literally find ways to do the opposite of the direction sometimes, #sorrynotsorry. Any who the problem is, I wanted my youth to pass so quickly that now looking back I wish I would have taken the time to appreciate more of the smaller things in life (backyard hikes, cooking with my parents, being in nature) All of these memories are frozen in my head and I am so happy that I have the ability to remember the good times and the bad times, because I learned from both.

Fast forward to now… The expected time for a new mother to go back to work is three months, just about everyone I know has done this but sooner than three months. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TIME SIMPLE AS THAT. I decided I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to get to know my new tiny stranger a little better, and get my mental and physical health in check. When I tell people I am not going back to work the immediate response is “you are so lucky.” To that I say yes, I am very lucky to have a family and sweet husband to support my decision to do this, however don’t think for a second that these six months will not be financially hard & stressful. I love to create and felt that that skill could help me get by. I appreciate everyone who has supported me on every creative adventure that I have started but unfortunately working for yourself is a tricky business to get into. This blog was an outlet for me to get my thoughts out because I have exhausted my trusty leather-bound journal I picked up at the Ute reservation. What I am looking for is connection here, I feel that mental health is so important with new mothers, and finding just one more person that has had a similar experience might just be the support you need. I know I could use it…

On a positive note sweet Wilder is the light of my life, every time he smiles my heart physically hurts(in a good way) I just tear up and stare at him sometimes. The miracle of life is legit and amazing and messy but wow is it rewarding. I know this sounds generic but I know it to be true. My son is the best thing that I have done in a while and I feel proud to be his mother. If anyone has any connection to these words please reach out I would love to talk.

with love

-Mountain Momma

Halloween Candy Bars!

Hey hey it is our favorite holiday! Spooky (our little guy) and I are so excited to share our vegan candy bar recipe! They are super yum, good luck not eating the whole tray :)

What you will need:

Cracker Base:

Ritz Crackers- 1 sleeve

1/3 cup melted butter

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

Food process all ingredients, then press into a parchment lined dish. Bake on 350 for 13 minutes.

Layer one: (caramel sauce)

1/3 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup nuts

*optional

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup hemp seeds

1/4 ground flax

1 pinch of salt

whisk all ingredients in a low heat saucepan, allow to heat for five minutes constantly whisking, then allow to cool for five minutes. Pour mixture on top of cracker base, and allow to cool over night. Cut into candy bar shapes (about 1 inch wide)

Chocolate top:

In a double boiler, melt some dark chocolate. Then dip each candy bar into mixture and allow to cool in fridge. Enjoy your spooky “snickers,” bars for yourself or share with those adorable trick or treaters. Do not forget to let people know that these contain nuts, Happy Halloween lovelies, be safe tonight!

Vegan Sausage and Peppers//Freezer Meal

Ello again from my living room. I set up camp here when we brought our boy home and have not left it, literally has everything I need and further proves my point that I can and will live in a tiny home (sleep deprivation rant over). I am sharing with you an amazing recipe that has the whole world talking, well kind of the whole world, alright maybe like five people but still it is amazing and you should make it regardless of whether you are vegan or not! This may be my favorite recipe that I have ever made, and it is so simple and quick!

You will need:

Sausage (Beyond Sausage) I get mine at Whole foods

Bell Pepper (2)

Onion (1 Medium)

Kale (1 Head)

Marinara Sauce (1 Jar, and some water to dilute)

*Bonus points to whoever saves the jar and makes a candle! Hows that for thrifty?

Chop all ingredients and lets simmer in sauce for about an hour, or you can cook on low in crockpot for 8 hours, store in glass freezer container. I also add garlic, onion powder, and salt/ pepper to taste. I serve mine over pasta, cous cous, rice, or on an Italian hoagie roll. My husband (The Carnivore) loves it and I have heard the brand of sausage I use won awards so…you should try this!

Two weeks Postpartum Mountain Momma

Woah! It has been two weeks since the birth of our sweet Wilder and I can not quite pinpoint the scale of emotions I have experienced so far. I knew deep down that this parenting journey of course would not be easy, and sure I have had my fair share of advice from parents and non parents (eye roll to the second, but appreciate the convo) but I never truly knew I could love something so much, I have never been a believer but wow it was love at first sight! I am here to tell you some of the must haves that I feel have aided our experience as first time parents. This week: Freezer Meals! (Material may be a TMI but that is motherhood)!

#1 Freezer Meals!

I can not speak more to this! As a breastfeeding woman who loves to cook it was hard for me to fathom not being in the kitchen for long periods of time. I read an article mid pregnancy in a cookie induced stupor one late night urging first time parents to prepare meals and I thought to myself that sounds fun. I created a meal plan that included frozen crockpot and oven meals. Disclaimer: In my household we do not own a microwave for personal reasons (feel free to insert your opinion on how the microwave is a kitchen marvel…not)! I am so happy to share my menu with you, I included high calorie meals for the breastfeeding mother as well as healthy and easy meals for my husband and his job which demands constant fuel!

Monday: Quinoa Nachos:

1 cup rinsed qunioa

2 cups veggie stock

any veggie you would like to include! (We chose Kale, Bell Pepper, Onion).

one packet taco seasoning

Also nacho makin’ supplies

Bring everything to a boil, reduce to a simmer, simmer on low for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and evenly distribute into glass containers for the freezer. The measurements make about four portions for two people. When ready to eat thaw a portion in fridge in a dish of cool water overnight then heat in oven for 30 minutes. We served ours over chia and blue corn chips, with shredded kale, tomato, olives, salsa, avocado, and sour cream with a sprinkle of hemp seeds!

This is so quick and easy for my husband to throw in the oven while I take a second to take a million photos of our sweet little creation! Enjoy!

Eco Friendly Swaps

Hey Hey friends are you tired of seeing plastic and single waste use just about everywhere?! Yeah me too -_- I have been slowly working on becoming a zero waste human being, and have learned some tips and tricks to help me along the way. I am here today telling you that it is not as hard as it looks! I have six budget friendly items that you can swap to start you off on your zero waste journey.

#1- Reusable Metal Straws: It has been reported that Americans use half a billion straws a day (enough straws to fill up Yankee Stadium), much of which ends up in the ocean. I keep a few in my purse and a few in my car. When I need my daily caffeine fix I kindly ask for no straw, it is so easy and so inexpensive. Make the switch for about $7 dollars and save a sea turtle!


#2-Hydroflasks: Humans buy about 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute in total. Only about 23% of plastic bottles are recycled within the U.S. Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, averaging about 13 bottles per month for every person in the U.S.! That means by using a reusable water bottle, you could save an average of 156 plastic bottles annually. I bring my trusty hydro flask everywhere and use it to fill any type of liquid. At most places you actually get a “bring your own cup discount!” So you are saving money!

#3-Grocery Bags: It is estimated that 4 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide annually. Only 1% of plastic bags are returned for recycling. Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags annually. That’s about 307 bags per person! All that waste can be eliminated by switching to reusable shopping bags. My friends if you take any of these suggestions, take this one seriously and make the switch! It is so simple to throw a few in your car, or your purse and be on your way!

#4-Produce bags: This product goes hand in hand with Reusable bags if you need to separate your veggies when grocery shopping just pick up some cloth produce bags as well. It takes 500 (or more) years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. Unfortunately the bags don't break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment. Thumbs down!

#5-Beeswax or Soy wraps: These wraps replace your need for plastic wrap, and are so so easy to make yourself and or buy at your local farmers market! They are a made from a combination of bee or soy wax, tree resin, jojoba oil, and organic cotton. You simply place over the items you need covered and use the heat of your hand to make form a seal. My vegetables have lasted longer, and no more brown avocados, holla!

You can find these in the shop tab on this website!

#6- Mason Jars: Mason jars are easy to come by and aseptically pleasing for all of my farmhouse decor lovers out there! I use my mason jars to store bulk items such as rice, beans, lentils, or what have you. The key is to have your grocery cashier weigh your jar before you fill it they will mark the jar with the weight of your Mason and then subtract that weight from your overall bulk cost. So simple and budget friendly!

* I am an amazon affiliate and get a small commission if you click the link and buy this product.

Now that you have read about the many ways you can swap everyday single use plastics, I encourage you to look for other items in your life that you use once and toss in the trash. I found so many things in my own everyday routine that I can replace with something reusable. I understand that some of us live in areas that do not have access to these items and have linked where you can buy these online! Hands in the air if you care about our planet and its future! Don’t forget to check out our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIAOLRSY3Gc&t=92s